30 March 2014

Healing plants for blemish-prone skins - Part 1

If you are suffering from regular breakouts or just the occasional odd ones and want to find natural solutions to treat it, then this post is for you!

If you wish to have a clearer skin and a more glowy complexion, medicinal plants and herbs can be really powerful when it comes to help treating inflammated/overreactive skins.

(I can't stress enough that an healthy skin is the result of a proteins/fatty acids/fibers-rich diet combined with plenty of water a day and a very thorough yet enjoyable skincare routine. Having said that, genetic/age/environnement/hormonal factors do play an important role in achieving skin balance.)

Here is a little selection of plants that are proven to purify the organism. Really good at giving a little spring body clean by flushing toxins out, these plants will help you to get a clearer complexion.

Burdock(Artium lappa) - The roots and the leaves mainly used to treat are super depurative and diuretic. Not only burdock helps in detoxifying liver and blood, but it helps clarifying the skin and re-balance it.

Nettle(Urtica Dioica) - Found in most of the gardens and wild areas, this herb is rich is minerals and vitamins and by no means really diuretic. Excellent to calm inflammated skin. If you have never tried nettle soup (super easy to do), have a go! Tasty and really purifying.

Wild pansy (Viola tricolor) -This beautiful violet flower is well known for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of acid acetylsalicylic and tanins. Used internally or externally to improve skin suffering from acne or eczema.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) - This medicinal plant which has a lovely aromatic scent is highly antiseptic and anti-bacterial. It is also rich in flavonoides which help soothing irritation. Thyme boosts skin regeneration processes and tonifies skin.

All of these plants can be taken as a warm infusion (some may also be available as supplements). So, get ready for a nice "me-time". Pour a cup of boiling water over a big spoon of fresh or dried plants. Leave it to infuse for 15 min. Add a slice of lemon and a small tea spoon of organic raw honey. And relax.....

I also recommend to look out for these herbs in beauty creams, balms, face toners or cleansers as they all have a proven relieving effect on irritated/blemish prone skins.